How we review gold dealers
Every dealer review on GoldVetted uses the same checklist, so dealers can be compared fairly. This page explains each check, how we measure premiums, where our data comes from and what we do not do.
What checks do we use?
Each check is marked Meets, Partly, Does not meet or Not measured. We use "Not measured" when we could not verify something, rather than guessing.
| Check | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Clear live pricing | Prices shown in real time against the gold price, without needing to phone or create an account first |
| Payment fees and discounts | Card fees, bank transfer discounts, minimum order sizes and any surcharge for paying by card |
| Insured delivery | Whether parcels are fully insured to the dealer or to you, what happens if one is lost, and delivery charges |
| Buyback | A published buyback policy, how the buy price is set, and whether there is a stated spread |
| Ownership and track record | Company registration, years trading, ownership shown on the dealer's own site or public filings, regulator and complaints records |
| Premium | The cost above spot on standard products, from our automated monthly check |
| International buyers | Which countries the dealer ships to, and any import duty, VAT or sales tax you may owe |
How do we calculate a premium?
The premium is how much more you pay than the raw gold content is worth. Spot is the wholesale price of one troy ounce of pure gold. We use this formula:
Premium = price / (fine oz x spot) - 1
"Fine oz" is the weight of pure gold in the product. A 1 oz coin of 99.99% purity has about 1 fine oz. Our premiums explained guide gives worked examples, and the premium tracker shows the latest results.
How is the premium verified?
Premiums come from an automated monthly check. A script reads the single-item price shown on the dealer's product page and the spot price from gold-api.com at the same moment, then records the dealer, product, URL, currency, time and spot. We do not publish a premium typed in by hand. If a dealer's site does not allow automated price checks, we say so and do not publish a premium for it. Prices shown are for a standard payment method and exclude delivery unless stated.
Which data sources do we use?
- Spot price: gold-api.com, for live prices and for our monthly checks.
- Dealer facts: the dealer's own pricing, delivery, payment and buyback pages.
- Company and complaints records: official registers and regulator or consumer-body records where they exist.
- Product specifications: mint and refiner websites for weight, purity and size.
- Tax and regulation: HMRC, the IRS, CRA, ATO and the FCA, linked in each page's source list.
Can dealers influence a review?
No. Commission, advertising or free products do not change a check result. We earn from affiliate links, and not every dealer we review has an affiliate programme. A review can be updated if a dealer sends evidence; see corrections.
What do we not do?
- We do not publish star ratings or scores out of ten.
- We do not invent or copy customer reviews. Third-party ratings are shown only with the figure, review count and month checked.
- We do not tell you to buy. See our disclaimer.
Who is the expert reviewer?
We are recruiting an independent precious-metals expert reviewer. This section will name them once appointed.
How often are reviews updated?
Every page shows when it was last updated and last fact-checked. Premium data is refreshed monthly. Our wider standards are in the editorial policy, and you can start with the how to buy gold guide.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.